Chicago:Blend Launches Chicago Venture Fellows to Diversify VC Talent Pipeline
New four-month cohort program provides underrepresented, aspiring VCs with the knowledge, networks and investment experience needed to break into the venture industry.
Challenge
The program is designed to help aspiring venture capital professionals from underrepresented backgrounds break into the industry in Chicago, which is 78 percent White and 66 percent men.
Outcome
In 2022, Chicago:Blend will train 20 Fellows across two cohorts – a summer cohort from May-August, and a fall cohort from September-December. Prospective participants must apply and be accepted into the program.
From May 4 to August 24, 2022, ten (10) Fellows will work to source innovative Chicago startups for potential VC investment, while learning from the city’s top VCs and tech leaders.
Selected participants receive:
- $1,000 stipend
- Finder’s fee for sourcing deals that receive venture funding
- Venture finance education through VC University ONLINE (provided by NVCA, Venture Forward and UC Berkeley)
- Personalized one-on-one mentorship (3 sessions)
- Professional development with Chicago’s top VCs and tech leaders (9 sessions)
- Complimentary admission to the Future of Food Summit, part of the Chicago Venture Summit by World Business Chicago (May 25-26)
- Complimentary access to downtown Chicago co-working space during the program, provided by TeamWorking by TechNexus
“Companies and organizations that prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion recruit the best teams, build better products, and produce stronger financial results. Chicago Venture Fellows is a product of our strategy to build a more diverse venture capital talent pipeline and welcome more people into the city’s tech community who might otherwise opt out,” said Joey Mak, Executive Director, Chicago:Blend.